Original Article: https://blog.theanimalrescuesite.greatergood.com/tonka-chimpanzee-star-found-alive/

You may not know Tonka by name, but it’s possible you’d recognize him as the chimpanzee star in ’90s films like George of the Jungle and Buddy. He’s an animal star that won a lot of hearts over the years, co-acting alongside the likes of Alan Cumming and Brendan Fraser.

Sadly, Tonka’s years of stardom didn’t lead to such a bright future. In fact, Tonka eventually wound up with Tonia Haddix as an owner, an animal broker at the former Missouri Primate Foundation.

Animal rights organization PETA found Tonka at the Missouri Primate Foundation along with multiple other primates, but when they returned to confiscate the animals, Tonka was missing.

According to a PETA press release, the animals lived in “often filthy, virtually barren enclosures” and they hoped to transfer the animals to an accredited sanctuary. Using a court order, they were granted permission to take the animals from Tonia’s care and move them to a proper living situation.

While they were able to rescue the other primates, Tonia claimed Tonka had passed away before PETA could confiscate him. He was getting older and his health had been declining.

However, a year later, PETA discovered evidence that Tonia had faked Tonka’s death and had been hiding him the whole time. A phone recording from Tonia claimed she’d moved Tonka but she had plans with her veterinarian to euthanize him on June 2nd.

According to The Gateway Pundit, a news site run by one of Tonia’s friends, she lied about Tonka’s death so he could live out his last days in comfort. She wanted to be with him until the end and his health had deteriorated to the point that his long-term veterinarian suggested euthanasia.

PETA wanted to have the chimp evaluated on its own, and after “months of searching” they finally found where Tonka had been hiding.

In the press release, PETA Foundation General Counsel for Animal Law Jared Goodman said:

“After months of searching, Tonka has finally been found and help is on the way. He has endured nearly a year of isolation and likely needs urgent care, but if all goes well, PETA will soon arrange for him to be moved to a lush sanctuary where he’ll have a chance for a real life at last.”

Tonia will face a court hearing on June 15 for perjury and contempt of court.

Source: The Animal Rescue Site Blog